Peter Costello
Peter Costello is a Member of Parliament and of the Independent Advisory Board to the World Bank. He has written a best selling account of his time as Treasurer which is now published in paperback. He lives in Melbourne with his wife Tanya and three children.
Federal-run health another batty idea
Peter Costello The death of four young men and insulation fires in 94 houses have focused attention on the competence of Peter Garrett to be a federal minister.
The streets of Conroy are paved with gold
Peter Costello You've got to look at it from Senator Stephen Conroy's perspective. The fact Mike Kaiser had been involved in branch stacking is not a matter of shame. He was working on behalf of the Right faction.
First the good news, a baby boom; then the bad news, debt
Peter Costello Australia's healthy birth rate means a more secure future for all.
In a pickle, and it's not because of ageing
PETER COSTELLO First the good news: the population is not ageing as fast as we expected. It's not because our birthdays are taking longer to come around.
Let's not go backwards for the sake of ideology
Peter Costello In terms of policy, this year started much better than last. Back then, Kevin Rudd published a treatise on the failure of the financial system and what had to be done about it.
Greens take moral high road - and finish last
Peter Costello Two days out from the Higgins byelection Malcolm Mackerras, Australia's leading psephologist, predicted a Greens victory.
Greens' preaching lost on the ordinary people of Higgins
Peter Costello Voters will stop listening if they detect a whiff of a superiority complex.
Labor has more to gain if the election is after July
Peter Costello Kevin Rudd does not want a double dissolution election over his carbon pollution reduction scheme, which is why he is asking the Opposition to come up with proposed amendments.
Rudd is in a double dissolution dilemma
Peter Costello If Kevin Rudd truly wanted a double dissolution, he would insist on a take-it-or-leave-it approach on the carbon pollution reduction scheme legislation. If the Coalition takes it, he gets his model.
Staying alive as global markets went up in flames
Peter Costello A t the height of summer, the Australian bush is tinder dry. Any spark can ignite it, and fire will leap from tree to tree, destroying all in its path.
Parting thoughts of a political party's proud and fortunate son
Peter Costello There is never a good time to exit. But my time for farewell is now.
Costello: I quit
Peter Costello When the House of Representatives resumes I will tender my resignation to the Speaker as Member for Higgins.
Final word on carbon trading is a lot of hot air
Peter Costello To say Australia must finalise its ETS scheme now is nonsense.
To set our emissions targets now is nonsense
Peter Costello Are you getting sick of all the argument about an emissions trading scheme? Don't. It's hardly started. The scheme is not due to begin until 2011.
The Government should learn from my tax reforms
Peter Costello The Henry Tax Review does not augur well for the average punter.
Labor must rule out a tax on homes
Peter Costello There are only two items off the agenda in the Henry tax review: the GST, introduced in 2000, and tax-free superannuation for over-60s, introduced from July 2007.
Be firm and clear: no access by boat
Peter Costello There is no easy solution to deal with the fleet of boats carrying asylum seekers to Australia. If they are admitted to Christmas Island and the passengers are successful in their claims to enter the...
Closing the sea route the only way to stem refugee tide
Peter Costello The Government must stand firm against this endless, risky business.
Giving in to lobbyists is a bad sign this early in a term
Peter Costello The Coalition stood up on CDs, and Labor should have on books.
Read my lips: book decision a bad ending
Peter Costello Bob Carr has been opining about how the parallel import rules make books more expensive and how the federal Labor Government should have adopted the recommendations of the Productivity Commission to...
